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LORD MUNSTER'S TOUR OF CALCUTTA [Allocated Title]

Other titles:ROYAL AIR FORCE OPERATIONS IN SOUTH EAST ASIA DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR [Allocated Series Title]

Summary: Lord Munster, Under-Secretary of State for India makes a tour of welfare inspection of British troops in India.

Description: Lord Munster seen arriving by car before inspecting the facilities of the Calcutta Swimming Club, which have been made available to British troops on leave. Lord Munster talking with the chairman and vice-chairman of the club. Three men play on a raft in the pool. Lord Munster talking with a number of other ranks at Liberator House, before departing by car.

Production Details: Air Ministry, Directorate of Public Relations (Production sponsor)
Royal Air Force Film Production Unit (Production company)
Woodcock, Sidney Leslie1945-05-02Flight Lieutenant Sidney Leslie Woodcock, service number 175562, cameraman with No.3 Royal Air Force Film Production Unit. Killed in action 2 May 1945 while filming from a Mosquito of 110 Squadron RAF over Rangoon, Burma. Buried in Rangoon War Cemetery alongside his pilot, Flight Lieutenant John George Buchanan (415744) see [http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2261432 accessed 24 February 2011] (Production individual)

Notes: By September 1944 a growing undercurrent of discontent amongst servicemen in India and Burma had led to a questions in Parliament about the provision of welfare services in the theatre. Consequently Lord Munster was despatched and after reporting his findings to Parliament more resources were allocated to welfare services in South East Asia Command, and more aircraft were made available to fly casualties home to the UK.
The cameraman of this piece, Flight Lieutenant Sidney Woodcock, was killed in action. He and his pilot, Flight Lieutenant J G Buchanan of RAF 110 Squadron, failed to return after a Mosquito sortie over Rangoon on 2 May 1945. They are buried in adjacent plots in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's Rangoon War Cemetery.
For more footage of Lord Munster's tour, see related items.
No slates, date from dopesheet.